Theft Offenses

Law enforcement officers in Fort Pierce, Port St. Lucie, Vero Beach, Okeechobee, and Stuart are commonly charging individuals with property crimes. The phrase "property crimes" includes a myriad of potential accusations that the government can make. Often prosecutors will argue that committing a property or theft crime says something about a person's character and that the punishment should be severe. Depending on the specifics of the case, a property crime can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony. Often a conviction of a property or theft crime can affect handgun ownership, lead to loss of employment, cause difficulty in obtaining future employment or even interfere with certain housing situations.

Because the crimes in question are so varied, the classification of the crime and possible sentences are also widely varied. The value of the property in question is of no concern after a conviction is on a person’s criminal record. If you are charged with a felony theft crime and are convicted, then that crime stays on your permanent criminal record regardless of the original circumstances of the crime. This is why it is so important to contact an experienced criminal attorney as soon as possible when charged with, or arrested for, a crime of this type.

The following is a non-exhaustive list of property crimes that the police and prosecutors will often allege:

Burglary of a Structure

Burglary of a Conveyance

Burglary of a Dwelling

Burglary of a Dwelling while Armed

Grand Theft

Dealing in Stolen Property

Public Assistance Fraud

Petit Theft

Retail Theft

Criminal Mischief

Organized Fraud/ RICO

Counterfeiting

Uttering a Forged Instrument

Employers are less likely to hire people with a criminal conviction involving dishonesty. Many employers may find other reasons to hire another job applicant when they see a theft conviction on a candidate’s record.

In the case of self-employed contractors, a conviction can also lead to difficulty with obtaining contracts or performing work. A state license may be more difficult to obtain if someone has a property crime conviction on their record, especially when these crimes are associated with drug charges or gun crimes. And of course an overzealous prosecutor may be seeking prison time for these kinds of cases.

In juvenile cases, schools may not accept young people into their educational institutions. Depending on the specifics of the case and the outcome of the trial, educational institutions may be privy to information about a student’s criminal record. This can have long lasting effects even years after the conviction when the juvenile becomes a young adult entering college.

Hiring a criminal lawyer who takes a creative, aggressive approach to every case could help you or someone you care about avoid the pitfalls of a theft or property crime conviction. Brian Mallonee is a board certified criminal trial attorney representing people accused of any criminal offense in Fort Pierce, Port St. Lucie, Vero Beach, Stuart, and Okeechobee, Florida. His office is located in downtown Fort Pierce near the St. Lucie County courthouse and the Federal courthouse. If you want to speak with a criminal defense lawyer today, contact criminal lawyer Brian Mallonee at (772) 464-1991 for a no cost evaluation of your case.

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